Stop Smoking Article

How To Stop Smoking NOW

by HealthyLivingTrends.com

It is not secret anymore that smoking destroys your health and leaves you vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. It also deeply affects your sense of self-esteem, knowing that you are seemingly powerless to control something that is a negative factor in your life. However, you are not powerless. You have it within yourself to be proactive and to prevail over this negative addiction. Once you have decided that your time is now, there are quite a few things that can help you succeed. Read on for some ideas to get you started.

The most obvious and most straight-forward way to stop smoking is through what is called "cold turkey." This means that you simply determine that you are taking control of your life, and use your inner strength to never pick up a cigarette again. Sound good? It sounds great, of course. However, it is almost impossible for the average person to quit smoking using this method. This is because cigarettes have added ingredients designed to make you physically addicted to them. So, not only will you be dealing with the psychological and emotional factors of a nicotine addiction, but you will be physically challenged as well. Let yourself off the hook right now, by saying that it is okay to get some help. Then move on.

A popular method of quitting smoking that has worked for a lot of people is nicotine replacement therapy. This is a method that should be approached with a thorough understanding of what is involved. If possible, get some professional help and have someone oversee the entire process.

Make an appointment to see a medical professional to get an assessment of what may work for you. Be honest with your doctor about each and every thing that may affect your ability to successfully stop smoking. Be open to prescription drugs that can at least jump-start the process for you. Ask about medications such as Chantix, but make sure that you understand the risks and the associated side effects.

Consider alternative processes such as hypnosis or acupuncture. Before you let anyone convince you that these methods do not work, do some research about success rates and how the process actually works. Keep an open mind and get referrals for competent practitioners in your area. Look for other natural methods also, such as meditation. It will need to be a program geared specifically to smokers in order for it to be effective.

If you do not immediately find a method that works for you, this does not mean that you should delay starting. Begin today, even if it is by nicotine tapering, which basically means eliminating one cigarette at a time. Sit down and determine how many cigarettes you smoke in a day, then eliminate one per day until you are down to at least half the number you were previously smoking. Keep going until you are a very light smoker, then eventually a non-smoker altogether.

Whichever method you decide on, the important thing is to make a positive step forward starting immediately. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Though that saying has been overused, it is nevertheless true. Use the advice here to make sure the rest of your life is healthy and positive.